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Thousands of wildlife rangers join forces across Africa to honour their fallen colleagues

#FeatureByJordanFinkle

Thousands of wildlife rangers join forces across Africa to honour their fallen colleagues

For the third year running, over 100 ranger organisations from more than 20 African countries came together for the Wildlife Ranger Challenge 21km half marathon on 17 September, including an all-star team participating at the African Ranger Congress in Kasane, Botswana. The first place team was the DNPW Nsumbu team from Nsumbu National Park in Zambia with a time of 02:08:56.

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In a world-first, the event witnessed an elite team of four wildlife rangers come together from across three African countries to complete the Challenge, in a show of pan-African camaraderie and teamwork. Rangers participating in Kasane and across the continent completed the gruelling half marathon Challenge whilst carrying 22kg (10kg for women’s teams) - a weight equivalent to an average fully packed check-in suitcase.

“The times achieved by the all-star team in Kasane is extraordinary, reflecting the exceptional calibre of individuals working across the front lines of Africa’s protected areas,” says Bear Grylls, Adventurer and Tusk Ambassador. “Despite facing enormous challenges, rangers continue to go above and beyond, and could not be more deserving of our support.”

As guardians of the natural world, wildlife rangers play a critical role in protecting natural, cultural and historical heritage. However, all too often, rangers operate under poor and dangerous working conditions.

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According to a Global Survey of the Working Conditions of Rangers conducted by WWF, the average ranger works almost 90 hours a week, with over 60 per cent surveyed having no access to clean drinking water on patrol or at outpost stations, and almost 40 per cent reporting they regularly have no access to shelter while on patrol at night.

The lack of resources is compounded by extremely dangerous working conditions, with threats, violence, injury and disease all too common. Up to 70 per cent of rangers surveyed by the WWF have contracted malaria within a 12-month period, and over 40 per cent have received threats from community members. Tragically, a number of rangers pay the ultimate price.

The Wildlife Ranger Challenge seeks to increase support for the ranger workforce by raising vital funds, which will help to widen access to essential equipment, enhanced training and protective measures.

As Charlie Mayhew MBE, Chief Executive of Tusk says, “The Wildlife Ranger Challenge brings their vital work to the fore by providing an opportunity to generate crucial funding for the men and women working on the front line of conservation. The campaign has to date supported over 9,000 rangers across 24 African countries, becoming a springboard from which the entire “rangering” profession can be recognised and developed.”

In addition to raising vital funds, the Wildlife Ranger Challenge seeks to correct misconceptions about rangers. Too often, the diversity within the profession is overlooked, with rangers seen as soldiers but not necessarily conservationists, teachers, community support workers, leaders, and activists.

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“My work as a ranger is complex and wide-ranging,” explains George Kamasiai, Anti-Poaching Unit Team Commander of Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. “While we are often thought of as working solely out in the field, we know how important it is to engage local communities in conservation through development, education and advocacy.”

The Wildlife Ranger Challenge has real power to impact change. With matched funding from the Scheinberg Relief Fund and the vital partnership of the Game Rangers’ Association of Africa, Tusk looks forward to seeing this initiative of Africa, for Africa, transform and reach even greater heights.

#FeatureByJordanFinkle

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